Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Cross-reference
Matthew 24:24 adds that false prophets will perform signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, deepening the warning about their deceptive power.
Matthew 24:11 explicitly says many false prophets will appear and deceive many, a direct thematic continuation of the warning.
Matthew 24:5 specifies that many will come in Christ's name and deceive, illustrating the kind of false prophets warned about in verse 15.
Matthew 24:4 contains Jesus' repeated warning 'watch out that no one deceives you,' reinforcing the call to beware false prophets.
Matthew 24:25 is Jesus saying 'I have told you ahead of time,' linking back to prior warnings like this verse as part of his forewarning.
Deuteronomy 13:1-3 warns about prophets who perform signs but lead to other gods, an OT parallel to Jesus' warning about false prophets in sheep's clothing.
Mark 13:22 warns of false prophets performing signs to deceive—the same danger Jesus highlights, but in the eschatological context.
Acts 20:29-31 warns of 'fierce wolves' entering the church — direct echo of Jesus' metaphor for false teachers among believers.
Romans 16:18 exposes deceivers who use smooth talk to serve their own appetites, directly reflecting the ravenous wolves inside.
Zephaniah 3:3 uses 'evening wolves' for corrupt judges — same wolf metaphor for those who devour the innocent.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 reveals false apostles disguising as servants of righteousness, exactly the wolf‑in‑sheep’s‑clothing concept.
Micah 3:5-7 condemns prophets who cry 'peace' for profit—directly parallels Jesus' warning of false prophets in sheep's clothing.
Ezekiel 22:25 portrays prophets as roaring lions devouring lives — same predatory imagery as wolves tearing prey.
Ezekiel 13:16 condemns prophets who whitewash lies with peace—similar to Jesus' image of false prophets hiding destructive intent.
Philippians 3:2 warns against 'dogs' and 'evildoers' — a direct parallel to Jesus' warning about false prophets, both urging vigilance against deceptive teachers.
Jeremiah 29:21 names specific false prophets Ahab and Zedekiah, illustrating the kind of deceptive leaders Jesus warns about.
Revelation 13:11 describes a beast with lamb-like horns but dragon speech, a direct image of the wolf in sheep's clothing.
Jude 1:4 says certain people have crept in unnoticed, perverting grace—identical to false prophets who come in disguise.
1 John 4:1 commands testing the spirits because many false prophets are active, directly applying Jesus' warning.
2 Peter 2:19 says false teachers promise freedom but are enslaved, mirroring the deceptive promise of false prophets.
2 Peter 2:18 describes false teachers who entice with sensual passions, just as wolves in sheep's clothing deceive.
2 Peter 2:1-3 elaborates on false teachers with destructive heresies and greed, mirroring the ravenous wolf imagery.
2 Timothy 3:5-9 describes false teachers with an appearance of godliness but denying its power, like wolves in sheep's clothing.
Jeremiah 23:13-16 denounces prophets who lead people astray with false words—mirroring Jesus' warning about ravenous wolves in sheep's clothing.
1 Timothy 4:1-3 speaks of some departing from faith by following deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, directly paralleling the false prophets warned about.
Jeremiah 28:15-17 shows Hananiah's false prophecy and his death—a concrete example of the fate Jesus warns false prophets will face.
1 Timothy 4:2 describes false teachers with seared consciences — the same type of deceivers warned against here.
2 Corinthians 11:13 reveals false apostles who disguise themselves — directly parallel to false prophets' disguise as sheep.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 commands testing everything — the direct response to false prophets in sheep's clothing.
Deuteronomy 18:20 prescribes death for false prophets speaking in God's name — OT law underlies Jesus' warning against them.
John 10:12 shows the wolf as an external predator; here the wolf is inside the flock — a contrast in perspective.
John 10:1 calls false shepherds thieves who climb in — parallel to false prophets as wolves disguised as sheep.
Luke 10:3 sends disciples as lambs among wolves — the opposite image: believers are vulnerable, not deceptive wolves.
Luke 11:39 rebukes Pharisees for outward cleanliness but inward greed — same hypocrisy as wolves in sheep's clothing.
Zechariah 13:2 promises God will remove false prophets — the same category of deceivers Jesus warns about here.
Jeremiah 5:31 directly states that prophets prophesy falsely and the people love it — a clear description of the false prophets Jesus warns against.
Jeremiah 23:16 warns against prophets who speak from their own minds, not God — exactly the kind of false prophet Jesus describes.
Ezekiel 13:4 uses foxes in ruins to depict false prophets — a parallel animal metaphor for deceptive leaders.
In 1 Kings 13:18, an old prophet deceives a man of God with a false message — a clear example of a false prophet in sheep's clothing.
In 1 Kings 22:6, 400 prophets falsely assure Ahab of victory — a classic case of false prophets pleasing the king rather than God.
In Jeremiah 14:14-16, God condemns prophets who speak false visions—parallel to Jesus warning against deceptive teachers.
Galatians 2:4 describes false brothers secretly infiltrating to spy on freedom, a concrete example of wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Ezekiel 13:22 rebukes prophets who dishearten the righteous and encourage the wicked—matching Jesus' warning about deceptive leaders harming the flock.
Micah 3:11 describes leaders who judge for bribes and prophets who divine for money—a specific example of the corrupt teachers Jesus warns about.
In Ephesians 5:6, empty words that deceive parallel the false prophets' deceptive speech; both warn against being led astray.
In Ephesians 4:14, being tossed by every wind of doctrine through human cunning parallels the deceptive teaching of false prophets in sheep's clothing.
Colossians 2:8 warns against deceptive philosophy that takes people captive, echoing the same danger of being misled by false teachings.
Jeremiah 29:32 pronounces judgment on Shemaiah for false prophecy—echoing Jesus' warning that false prophets will be exposed and punished.
Jeremiah 27:14 warns against prophets who falsely promise that Babylon will not conquer — a specific example of deceptive prophecy.
2 Timothy 3:13 describes evil impostors deceiving and being deceived, echoing the deceptive nature of false prophets.
2 Timothy 4:3 warns of people accumulating teachers to suit their passions, which enables false prophets to thrive.
Isaiah 9:15 calls prophets who teach lies 'the tail,' linking to the OT pattern of false prophets that Jesus warns against.
Proverbs 11:9 describes a godless man destroying his neighbor with his mouth — akin to false prophets' destructive deceit.
2 Peter 3:17 urges believers to be on guard against being carried away by error, a direct parallel to Jesus' warning about false prophets.
Nehemiah 6:14 mentions prophetess Noadiah and other false prophets who tried to intimidate Nehemiah — a direct parallel to deceptive prophets Jesus warns about.
Romans 16:17 calls believers to watch out for those causing divisions, a parallel call to beware of deceptive teachers.
Mark 12:38-40 warns against scribes who appear pious but exploit the vulnerable, similar to wolves hidden by outward show.